TROUBLED HD Ferries has put its ship up for sale for £10 million – but claims that it may still resume Channel Islands services again next year.
The company, which earlier this month cancelled all winter sailings because of increasing fuel costs and a slowdown in business, is in negotiations with four ferry operators for its HD1 vessel. But HD Ferries has reassured customers that the move will not affect its decision on whether to resume sailing in the spring and summer season.
It says that the decision will be based on customer demand and the price of fuel and that if they do find a buyer, and then the economic outlook improves, they will return with another vessel.
HD Ferries spokesman Phil Jones said: ‘We are actively looking to redeploy the ship during the winter months.
‘Our first choice is to charter the ship out, but most charter companies like to have the option to buy the vessel at the end of the period. I don’t think that our looking into redeploying the ship during the winter months has any bearing on whether we resume operations next year. The decision on our future will be based on customer demand and the price of fuel.’
